What is the Difference Between WiMax and LTE ?

The primary difference between LTE and WiMAX are the differences in upbringing: like close cousins, there are deep blood ties between the two standards, (similar frameworks of technology), but the ‘families’ that have raised them are different: different goals and different means. But as each group has now prepared their standards to fulfill proposal requirements mandated by ITU, International Telecommunications Union, IMT-Advanced, the two standards are seeking jobs at the same huge ‘factory’ – the factory of open IP unified communications. Both WiMAX and LTE have evolved to become ‘evolutionary frameworks’ that are based on the same core wireless and network technologies. Many of the differences can be viewed as specializations upon that core theme: WiMAX has its roots in the wireless broadband access industry which had used a hodge-podge of non-standard technologies. For that matter, WLAN, wireless local area networking, had been a mix of mostly proprietary approaches until the success of of the IEEE 802.11b/a standard. The IEEE 802.16 effort had been underway and produced its first version of the standard, but until the powerful semiconductors become available at low cost to enable WiFi based on 802.11 to explode in popularity, the 1st version gained little adoption, even among the developing companies.

Success in WiFi helped speed the development of chip designs and clarified what was possible to develop in WWAN, wireless wide area networks. Not alone, Flarion/Qualcomm, and companies providing mobile systems also had considered the day when it would become feasible to use MIMO-OFDM and other advanced technologies. But the 3GPP/3GPP2 efforts also considered other technologies including layering of OFDM on top of WCDMA . So, when the discussion is about ‘What is WiMAX (or LTE)’ the answer should also include a statement that “these are two systems developing along the same lines but optimized to work somewhat differently. WiMAX is primarily aimed at Greenfield (new) fixed to mobile deployments while LTE is mostly aimed at incumbent (existing) deployments that must work with existing networks and business practices”. But you can quickly see even that is a simplification that does not completely fit the current state of development: Sprint now sells dongles with mobile devices soon to appear that will support both Clearwire’s WiMAX and Sprint’s 3G EVDO. And they are working on doing seamless hand-offs of voice and other communications. That will soon mean users of Google Android or other phones and mobile devices will be able to start a VoIP call on the WiMAX network and keep on talking as they travel to a Sprint or collaborating 3G network. Chips are in the works to also allow that to happen across WiMAX and HSPA/GSM. Likewise, some

LTE developers say it will be used for fixed networks as well as for mobile networks. The next versions of both, 802.16m WiMAXm and LTE-Advanced, are being designed to meet the same guidelines for IMT-Advanced which calls for an adaptive framework that can be used from local area fixed networks to large scale mobile networks and to use multiple carriers across multiple bands of spectrum. No sense getting into the details but it is important to view both WiMAX and LTE headed to become the ‘Swiss Army knives’ of wireless. Should they merge? They are already on the path of converging at many levels and will eventually be practically merged. If you liked this article, you may consider subscribing to Telecom Circle to get all the articles in your mail box

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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are my personal views and do not reflect the views of my employer.

About The Author

Robert

Robert Syputa, BSEE, MBA, is Senior Partner and has over 28 years experience in the broad field of electronics and eight years experience as a telecommunications industry analyst and consultant, particularly in the emerging fields of Next Generation Mobile Networks (4G) and converging business models. His background experience includes sales and marketing at Fairchild Semiconductor and sales management at Philips. Robert ran TEAM Associates, an independent manufacturer's representative firm whose clients included Honeywell and GE-Druck. Several years ago, Syputa developed an interest in emerging wireless communications fields including CDMA, GSM cellular and 802.11/802.16 standards for WLAN and WMAN systems. He developed a broad understanding from grounds up analysis of the technologies, companies and business trends. He has consulted for both startup wireless companies and leaders in NGMN and investment groups.
Robert co-authors Maravedis’ Industry reports and is author of WiMAX NGMN IPR Analysis Report and IPR Database and several additional industry segment reports.
Mr. Syputa obtained a Bachelors of Electrical Engineering from Southern Polytechnic State University and a Masters of Business Administration from Seattle University.

This is an excellent article, and very simply states the difference between LTE and WiMax. LTE, from my perspective is slightly ahead and the difference can only widen as it salvages the existing infrastructure (reuse).

Excellent article. I think that eventually both protocols should merge between. It’s possible to one of them phase out the other due to massive market adoptions or expensive vs. cheap manufacturing, but seems like most developers/manufacturers are on the way of full compatibility between both sides.

That is what is always happening an existing technology then the newer one. Once both have become to be on solid ground they will merge into the next generation of technology. Love it can’t wait as I am looking forward to this being the next form of broadband and the end of some many wires….

[…] With the demand of high internet data traffic consumed in business, gaming, IPTV, video conferences, VoIP calls, monstrous file sharing and now crowding source at-large, faster and reliable wireless broadband has to roll in. The possible candidates right now as we see are LTE and WiMAX. For complete understanding read in what is the difference between WiMAX and LTE? […]